Inset: Hutch Benjamin (Miami-Dade Jail via WFOR). Background: Surveillance footage that authorities say shows Benjamin attacking a woman and her nonverbal son in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (WTVJ).
Authorities say a 44-year-old Florida man used a cane or baseball bat to strike a woman and her 12-year-old nonverbal son as they made their way to the child’s bus stop.
Hutch Benjamin is facing two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the incident.
The alleged attack took place Tuesday morning in a parking lot near Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. The woman, who identified herself only as Chrissy, described the encounter to local CBS affiliate WFOR and NBC affiliate WTVJ. She said she and her son had only recently moved into the area.
Chrissy said they were headed toward the bus stop when Benjamin came up behind them.
“He just said, ‘I told you not to come,’” Chrissy recalled.
Moments later, she said, he began striking her son. Chrissy tried to protect the boy by placing herself between him and the attacker, and Benjamin allegedly began hitting her as well. Authorities have not identified a motive, and the victims and suspect were not known to each other.
Chrissy said other people were nearby during the attack, but no one stepped in to help.
“They didn’t care, even if I showed them blood,” she said.
Chrissy was eventually able to fend her attacker off. He ran away.
The victims suffered cuts and bruises but were traumatized by the violence. Chrissy said she was stunned by what happened.
“You can’t attack a child, especially a kid who’s 12 years old and a woman, and get away with it,” she said.
Fort Lauderdale cops released surveillance video of the attack.
Benjamin was arrested on Friday.
The victims were thankful that cops took Benjamin off the streets.
“It was never forgotten. And that’s what I’m happy for,” Chrissy said. “Justice was done in the community. I can feel some type of peace.”
Benjamin’s next court date was not listed.
